During the spring 2022 semester, NYU’s User Advisor Group (UAG) published a report that pointed to the need for a self-service animation tool. Then, early on in the fall 2022 semester, NYU licensed PowToon, which is fully integrated with NYU Stream. PowToon is available for use by all members of the NYU community.
PowToon allows both instructors and students to create high-quality animations. Users can do this either from scratch or by using dozens of different pre-made templates. What’s even better is that the interface of PowToon is very similar to that of a Google Slides or Microsoft PowerPoint presentation.
From the instructor perspective, this can be a great tool to create a “Meet the Instructor” animation, short videos to review key concepts that were discussed during a lecture, or to adopt a flipped classroom model. For courses that require students to create multimodal projects, PowToon also offers a great alternative for students who might want something a little more dynamic than a Google Slides presentation, but aren’t comfortable with more technologically advanced video editing tools.
From the student perspective, not only can students complete certain types of assignments/projects, but PowToon offers a number of different templates that can help students enrich their portfolios. With templates including “Video Resume” and “Video Timeline Resume,” these types of job application materials can really help students stand out when they’re ready to embark on the job hunt.
Here’s an example of a PowToon created by a member of the A&S Office of Ed Tech. You may be prompted to login with your NYU NetID to view the video. It’s also worth noting that it’s also possible to record a video of yourself as part of a PowToon animation!
Feel free to check out this resource on using PowToon and to also reach out to your A&S Office of Ed Tech liaison if you have any questions about its use or to collaborate on an exciting instructional project with the tool. We’re always happy to help and to partner with faculty!